Are You Rebelling against the Lord?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Numbers 11-14; 20-24; 27 in a lesson titled “Rebel Not Ye against the Lord, Neither Fear.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

Even on foot, it wouldn’t take 40 years to travel from the wilderness of Sinai to the promised land in Canaan. But that’s how long the children of Israel needed – not to cover the geographical distance but to cover the spiritual distance: the distance between who they were and who they could become as God’s covenant people.

The book of Numbers describes some of what happened during those 40 years, including lessons the children of Israel needed to learn before entering the promised land. They learned about being faithful to the Lord’s servants (see Numbers 12). They learned about trusting the Lord’s power, even when the future seems hopeless (see Numbers 13-14). And they learned that being faithless brings spiritual harm, but they could repent and look to the Savior for healing (see Numbers 21:4-9).

We’re all like the Israelites in some ways. We know what it’s like to be in a spiritual wilderness, and the lessons they learned can help us prepare to enter our promised land: eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

Some principles taught in this scripture block are: (1) Revelation is available to everyone, but God guides His Church through His prophet (Numbers 11:11-17, 24-29; 12); (2) “Moses was very meek” (Numbers 12:3); (3) With faith in the Lord, I can have hope for the future (Numbers 13-14; (4) If I look to Jesus Christ in faith, He can heal me spiritually (Numbers 21:4-9), and

(5) I can follow God’s will, even if others try to persuade me not to (Numbers 22-24).

This essay will discuss principle #3, faith in Jesus Christ can lead to hope for the future. As you read Numbers 13-14, I hope that you try to put yourself in the place of the Israelites. This is a good principle for all scripture study, trying to put oneself into the situation of the people in the story. We will study some relevant verses as follows.

Numbers 13 tells us that Moses sent twelve spies – one man from each of the twelve tribes – to search the land of Canaan. Ten of the twelve men brought an evil report and told Moses only of the strengthen of the inhabitants. Their report caused the children of Israel to fear. The ten men were not allowed to enter the promised land. Two of the twelve – Joshua and Caleb – brought good reports, were praised by the Lord, and became leaders of the people.

Numbers 14:3

3 And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

Why do you think that they wanted to “return to Egypt”? They were afraid that they would die by the sword – something that did not concern them while living in Egypt. They were slaves, but they had a certain amount of security as well as plenty of food to eat. They did not remember all the miracles performed in Egypt as well as the way that the Lord provided food and water for them to eat and drink.

Numbers 14:24

24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

How would you describe the other “spirit” Caleb had? What impresses you about the faith of Caleb and Joshua, and how might you apply their examples to situations you face? Joshua and Caleb had similar experiences to those of the other ten spies. They also saw similar sights. However, they had faith that the Lord would bless them and help them to conquer the inhabitants of the land.

We each face an enemy and/or evil. If we have faith in the Lord and His power, we know that we will not fail. We know that if the Lord is on our side, no evil or power can overcome us.